The recent NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader at Phoenix showcased intense racing and has fueled discussion about the future of such collaborative events, with Kyle Larson openly endorsing the concept. Larson’s support follows a weekend that blended both disciplines at Phoenix Raceway, drawing attention from fans and participants across motorsports.
Doubleheader Weekend Delivers Excitement at Phoenix Raceway
The collaborative race weekend began with the IndyCar Good Ranchers 250 on March 7, where Team Penske excelled. David Mualukas put in the fastest lap in qualifying, clocking 41.0530 seconds to secure pole. In the main race, teammate Josef Newgarden emerged victorious over the 255-mile distance, while Mualukas claimed third place, making it a strong showing for the team. The following day, NASCAR’s Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 took center stage, again highlighting Team Penske’s form. Joey Logano earned pole position, and Ryan Blaney executed a commanding race to take the win. These back-to-back events offered fans a compelling example of how both types of racing can complement each other at the same venue.
Kyle Larson Supports Future Joint Events
Kyle Larson, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hendrick Motorsports driver, underscored his enthusiasm for the weekend’s format after watching the Good Ranchers 250 from home. He was particularly impressed by the action on the short oval and highlighted the appeal of IndyCar competition in such settings. In his televised comments, Larson recognized the excitement generated by both Christian Rasmussen and Josef Newgarden, and advocated for more opportunities that allow both racing series to share the stage. Emphasizing his interest in extending these crossovers, he suggested the concept could evolve to include street or road course venues where IndyCar could take the lead role.
“I watched the race on TV. It was a great race. I think any cars on short ovals are really exciting. So yeah, Rasmussen and Newgarden, they’re a lot of fun to watch. So yeah, hopefully we can do more of it in the future. I think it’d be pretty neat to kind of go to their, you know, neck of the woods, maybe with, like, a street course or a road course, you know, and kind of let them be the premier division.”
— Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Larson further praised the IndyCar field and reiterated the value of crossover weekends for both fans and competitors. He sees these events as opportunities to showcase great racing talent and increase the exposure of both disciplines.
“You know those guys deserve it; they put on great racing, so yeah, we’d love to do it again, but the crossover is great,”
the HMS ace added.
Larson’s Own Performance at Phoenix and Strong Start to 2026
The 2025 Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson, made headlines for supporting doubleheader races, but also for his competitive showing at Phoenix Raceway. During the Cup Series event, he secured his first podium finish of 2026, taking third place behind Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. Starting from second on the grid, just 0.12 seconds behind pole sitter Joey Logano, Larson maintained a strong pace throughout the 312-lap event. This result marked an encouraging early milestone for his season and underscored his ongoing versatility and passion for motorsports.
Mentorship and Support for Corey Day During Challenging Times
On the same weekend at Phoenix, Larson extended personal support to rookie driver Corey Day, who faced mounting scrutiny after a series of incidents earlier in the season. Day, piloting the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports entry, had attracted criticism for on-track clashes at EchoPark Speedway, where he tangled with JR Motorsports drivers Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil, and later at the Circuit of the Americas event, involving JRM’s Connor Zilisch. Larson, recognizing the pressures faced by young drivers in the spotlight, reached out with advice and encouragement to help Day regain his composure and confidence.
“I haven’t really talked to him a whole lot, but just like, ‘Hey man, you’re doing great. Obviously you’ve had a rough couple weeks and all that, and you’ve taken in a lot of advice, but keep your head up.’”
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Series champion
Larson emphasized the importance of resilience and maintaining self-belief, especially for drivers at the outset of their professional careers.
“I think (that’s) important to do when you’re 20 and you’re getting a lot of advice and you’re beating yourself down, I’m sure, for how you’ve handled things. So just trying to like, ‘Hey, we all believe in you. You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t. And keep your head up. You’re a great race car driver. You’ll figure it out,”
he added.
Despite the tough start to his rookie Cup season, Corey Day sits eighth in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series driver standings, bolstered by two top-five finishes at EchoPark Speedway and COTA, as well as a top-ten at Phoenix across four starts.
The Broader Impact and Future for NASCAR-IndyCar Collaboration
Kyle Larson’s active endorsement for NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheaders signals growing enthusiasm for multi-discipline events within the motorsports community. By successfully staging both races in one weekend at Phoenix, stakeholders from NASCAR, Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports, and IndyCar have demonstrated the value and excitement such collaborations bring. Fans can anticipate ongoing discussions about future doubleheaders, with the potential to feature diverse circuits, including street courses and additional road events, as platforms for innovation and cross-promotion.
More #IndyCar and #NASCAR doubleheaders?
Kyle Larson supports it.
He's one of quite a few who enjoyed the crossover at @phoenixraceway, and has an idea of where else he'd like to see it happen. pic.twitter.com/2UuPJ6AI53
— Jess Peters (@_Jess_Peters_) March 9, 2026
